370 I N A G U A 



arrow-like form of a fish came darting by and I automatically 

 assigned it to the houndfish group, I was startled to discover 

 when it turned and came in full view that it was a barracuda in- 

 stead. In the dark it looked grimmer than ever and I was much 

 relieved when it kept going and disappeared. The barracuda, 

 however, did not give me nearly as much of a scare as the big 

 jewfish which I had observed previously during the day swing- 

 ing airily in its den. 



Tiring of my pendulum-like position on the life line I with- 

 drew my foot and slipped down to the bottom. Here, care- 

 fully retaining my grip on the rope to prevent a mishap in the 

 current, I hopped and skipped over to my favorite sea fan 

 where I sat down, clutching it between my legs. From this 

 position I could see the creature's hiding place, but the gloom 

 inside was too great to make out any details. Knowing that 

 it was nocturnal I wondered where the jewfish was and started 

 revolving around the fan to see if I could find it. It suddenly 

 loomed up a few inches from the helmet. I let out a yell which, 

 if emitted on the surface, would have been heard a couple 

 miles away, and gave a great jump that carried me nearly 

 to the surface. The leap shot me out over the ravine and as I 

 floated down I came to an abrupt, though easy, halt when I 

 reached the end of my tether. I then swung in towards the per- 

 pendicular and towards the jewfish which was still waiting 

 near the brink. By this time, however, I had recovered my men- 

 tal equilibrium and came to a gentle rest on the rock bottom a 

 few feet from its body. It backed away a short distance and 

 then hovered again. 



I felt a little chagrined for reacting the way I did but the 

 sight of that monstrous black body so close to mine, even 

 though I was looking for it, was more of a shock than my 

 nerves could stand. 



The jewfish regarded me for a minute or two and then 



